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Q: How to change a computer from Chinese to English
I am thinking of buying a laptop computer but they are all in Chinese, how can it be changed to English.
I have tried the Control Panel ( clicking on the world icon) method but have had no success. I am trying to change my home desktop computer using the above method but no luck so far.
I am open to any suggestions.
10 years 30 weeks ago in Web & Technology - China
You need a program that will install logic reason and accountability then it will work like western computer good luck or you could get a disc like windows 7 from home and install that in place of what you have
I have been trying to do this too. From what I can gather, you need to install the English version of whatever system you have eg: windows 7.
That's the only way you can do it apparently.
If you buy a computer in China it is likely to be loaded with crap. You would want to install the operating system of your choice yourself. I have yet to see a computer in China that was usable from the shop.
I think if you buy Lenovo, Dell and such brands, you can chose English OS when ordering. Now you'll think... "but my local guy has a laptop at a great price" and then I'll add, "Yes, and the reason why you cannot find the same model on the manufacturers home page is because it is last years model"
Good luck with finding a non pirated version of Windows 7 in English!
You need to root the computer to get out the Chinese. This is very difficult since the Chinese have had computers for 5000 years.
TedDBayer:
You asked the stupid question, control panel, see date time languages, Is English listed ? Duh. Some computers l've used had to press ctrl & alt to shift between language. Try googling moron. If it doesn't have English on it, you will have to download it. Is it a real Windows program or Chinese? Also learn to play nice with others.
It's possible, it just a patch that need to be installed. Take your System unit to any computer market near you, they will help you out for a small charge.
If you get original win7, than it's automatic in english even buy in China. as I did last time.
If not original, make sure you get the profesional version of chinese win7. than in update section download the english, arabicv, czech poland, whatever language you want. than instal. than restart and change it in control panels, restart again.
use
Or, you may ask them in the shop change it for you before go home.
Or the best way, Buy Apple. those are products exactly for users like you 
if your Chinese windows is genuine Microsoft lets you use some language packs to convert the whole Operating System into English language as you wanted. name of program is MUI (Multilingual User Interface).
Thankyou to you all for the possible answers to my problem. I have tried control panel/ world icon (according to Google) and have chosen English in 3 dropdown menus but no luck as of yet. I will keep trying as to all your suggestions. Thanks again
you have to install an english operating system
try downloading using torrents and rip it to a dvd then install
http://194.71.107.80/search/windows%208/0/99/0
if you have problems contact me and i will guide you through the process
I think your question is about Windows in Chinese , not about other thing, right ? If is this, you cana sk the seller to install to you an English Windows XP or Win7. They are pirat windows in english, but is ok. if you want license in english, you can buy it also . I think the best shop for electronics and seller's help is Dadong electronics ( sorry if I mistake the name exactly) , I also buy one and they installed to me what I wanted for free also. And installed another Windows in another computer, for 100 rmb only.
Johngreen:
thankyou but where is Dadong electronics...and which city?
Unless it's a Mac you're stuck in Chinese.
The only way would be to reinstall windows with an English version and you will lose everything on the computer but as it's new I guess there's not much to back-up.
Just take it to your local computer market and ask them to install an English version, will probably cost you 50-100.
windows 7 ultimate has a language package built in to switch, the other windows 7 have optional updates and windows 8 has optional updates to switch the language and you have to look at the list of optional programs and download from microsoft website, this is only if you have a legal authenticated copy of windows.
if you cant get this done, get a backup up image of someones english windows hard drive "iso" and clone it to your computer,
it will not be a legal copy as you now have a dupilicate of some one elses hard drive , so go in the control panel and turn off windows updates. and clone from the other computer updates every few months.
you can update online a legal copy of windows for about 40 dollars from microsoft.
good luck to you.
Go to Control panel, look for Windows language setting. If you have windows? click scole down to ( if you speak mandarin or Cantonese) to either and click on it? with a little luck that should change to Chinese. Every pc I have ever had is different, hope it works on yours.
If you REALLY REALLY want to change language on a Windows PC, then in Microsoft terminology what you need is a "MUI Pack" (Multilingual Interface Pack) without that all you can do is change what country the PC is in (timezone wise) and how the keyboard layout is and what characters you can type. If you want menu's and stuff in English you need an MUI. It's not a default part of any Windows distribution (as far as I know) and could be subject to additional license.
Reinstalling an English language version from scratch is the only way to go.
